Like most IPMS chapters, the majority of interest at Centennial/IPMS in Colorado Springs has been military aircraft and vehicles. There has been an influx of new members with different interests in recent years. As a result, many members old and new have tried something outside their usual domains. Not only has the diversity of the group has grown, but the emphasis has become more focused the simple enjoyment of modeling, expanding skill repertories and celebrating a finished project.  Leadership in the group is far from lacking in many ways. The chapter VP is Matt Quiroz, IPMS # XXXXX, a prolific, talented, versatile modeler, who often inspires members to go beyond their favorite subjects.

Early in 2010, Matt engaged the club with an invitation to build airliners. This would be quite a departure for the fans of 1/35 and 1/48 vehicles with flat, weathered finishes. It would be less of a leap for the contingent of talented, enthusiastic auto modelers that have joined Centennial. Matt’s original invitation wasn’t for a contest-bound group build. It was just for the fun of building something different and the camaraderie of struggling through something new together. Despite attempts by a local contest coordinator to wrangle the upcoming collection into the cases at a local hobby shop for some light public vote contests, Matt stayed on target and kept the club moving in a purely fun direction.  In the spring, a new level was added to the project. Centennial member and Colorado Springs Airport employee Steve Carricato arranged for the collection to be displayed at the airport. The club would get two of the six display cases in the area near one of the gates. The level of participation jumped even higher.     

All together, Centennial/IPMS members completed a total of 39 airliners.  Scales ranged from a 1/48 to 1/200.  The collection included several noteworthy aircraft. The DC-3 was the first commercial aircraft that could fly across the continent in under 18 hours with only three refueling stops.  The Constellation was the first airliner in widespread use with a pressurized cabin. The Boeing 707 was the first jet airliner.  There was a large group of All Nippon Airways planes including a YS-11, the first commercial aircraft produced in Japan.  The mix included some private subjects like Hefner’s Big Bunny in 1/200 scale and a 1/72 Twin Otter Maldivian Air Taxi float plane. There were also three 777s from the Minicraft Flights of Fancy series. Three of the aircraft have made appearances at the Colorado Springs Airport. United Express flies CRJ-200s to many destinations. An All Nippon Airways 787 did some test work at the airport. Many Colorado Springs residents remember Western Pacific Airlines with the famous logo jets like the Colorado Springs 737-300.

An invitation to build something different turned out to be a real success for the chapter. Members took the opportunity to learn some new tricks while building kits they would not have otherwise chosen. The chapter is getting some great PR with the display in the airport.  The talk now is for another build for the airport cases. With the richness of the Colorado Springs area for inspiration, the next collection will surely be another bright spot for Centennial.